The writer is a church pastor and a regular columnist for
The Journal.

By Dave Havir

BIG SANDY, Texas--One of the most damaging mental filters
among the Churches of God has been the church-eras concept.

Here's a reminder of how a mental filter works: As we gather
information throughout our lives, we evaluate and process it through a mental
lens. This lens, or frame of reference, determines how we interpret what
happens around us and to us.

The first problem

In this article I address two major problems created by
various church-eras theories.

The first is that many people put personal theories and
private interpretations about church eras ahead of Scripture.

Let me give you some examples that have dramatically affected
the Churches of God.

1975 in prophecy

Beginning in the 1960s many people in the Worldwide Church
of God identified 1972 as the time they believed they would go to a "place
of safety" and 1975 as the year of Jesus' return. Many made bad health
and financial decisions based on those theories.

Why did intelligent people overlook scriptures such as
Matthew 24:36 and Acts 1:7?

One contributing factor was a private interpretation of
Revelation 3:10 that distracted people from other parts of the Bible.

On a pedestal

Beginning in the 1950s many people in the Worldwide Church
of God came to believe that Pastor General Herbert Armstrong was a popelike
figure (in effect, the vicar of Christ or God's anointed) overseeing God's
government on earth.

Why did intelligent people overlook scriptures such as
Matthew 20:25-28; 1 Corinthians 3:1-5, 21; and 1 Corinthians 11:3 and place
Mr. Armstrong on an extrabiblical pedestal?

One contributing factor was that Mr. Armstrong viewed himself
as the angel (or messenger) of Revelation 3:7. When people saw him read
himself into Scripture, many overlooked Revelation 22:18-19 and Luke 14:7-11
and accepted the theory.

(For the record, some leaders today learned from Mr. Armstrong's
mistake of identifying himself and therefore use a different method of promoting
themselves. They influence their lieutenants to advertise their prominent
role. Then they can deny doing it themselves. This method involves the use
of plausible deniability.)

End-time Elijah

Through the years many people came to believe that Mr.
Armstrong was the end-time Elijah.

Why did intelligent people ignore scriptures such as Matthew
11:10-14, Matthew 17:10-13 and Revelation 11:5-6?

Once people are predisposed to believe private interpretations
about church eras, they are easily swayed by new theories that support the
old theories.

Not for 1,900 years

Through the years many people came to believe the theory
that the gospel had not been preached for 1,900 years until Mr. Armstrong
came on the scene and that during his life he was the only one preaching
it.

How did intelligent people ignore the evidence of history
that refutes such theories?

Once people are predisposed to believe private interpretations
about church eras, they often suffer from tunnel vision concerning their
leaders and will reflect their leaders' version of history.

The second problem

The second problem created by church-eras theories is that
many people use such theories and interpretations as an excuse to treat
other people badly.

Here's how the theory about church eras oftentimes crystallizes:
People identify themselves as Philadelphia and then evaluate others as Sardis
and Laodicea.

Claiming the starring role

Jesus said a lot of good things about the Philadelphia
congregation (Revelation 3:7-13). Therefore people are tempted to identify
themselves as the Philadelphians.

When people hear a respected churchman call himself the
leader of the Philadelphia era, is it any wonder when they look through
the same mental filter?

Notice some comments by people who have a self-promoting
mental filter:

"Our group is the Philadelphia era of God's church."

"Our group has the baton or mantle or candlestick
of the Philadelphia era of God's church."

"We are the faithful believers because we honor
the man who was the head of the Philadelphia era of God's church."

"We understand Bible prophecy because we honor the
man who was the head of the Philadelphia era of God's church."

Identifying the dead

Once people identify themselves as the Philadelphians,
they often turn their attention toward labeling and condemning other people.

Jesus made a statement to the Sardis congregation: "You
have a name that you live and are dead" (Revelation 3:1).

Self-proclaimed Philadelphians label and condemn others:

"Since we view you as dead, we identify you as the
Sardis era."

"You are small and insignificant. If you are even
a part of the Body of Christ, you are not the main part like we are."

"Your efforts are pitiful. You are not doing the
work of God like we are."

For the record, every saint does dead works at times. Do
you realize that self-proclaimed Philadelphians are just as unrighteous
(Romans 3:10), carnal (Romans 7:14) and weak (Matthew 26:41) as the rest
of us? It is important for every saint to focus on our leader, Jesus Christ,
who will help us overcome.

Identifying the lukewarm

Self-proclaimed Philadelphians seem to take great delight
in labeling and condemning people as "Laodiceans" (Revelation
3:14).

Jesus made a statement to the Laodicean congregation: "Because
you are lukewarm . . . I will spew you out of my mouth" (verse
16).

Self-proclaimed Philadelphians label and condemn others:

"Since we view you as lukewarm, we identify you
as the Laodicean era."

"You are not holding fast like us. If you are even
a part of the Body of Christ, you are not the main part like we are."

"Your efforts are pitiful. You are not doing the
work of God like we are."

For the record, every saint does lukewarm deeds at times.
Do you realize that self-proclaimed Philadelphians often exhibit traits
of Laodiceans? (Revelation 3:17). It is important for every saint to focus
on our leader, Jesus Christ, who will help us overcome.

The label stifles Bible study

One of the tragic results of the church-eras theory is
that people use the Laodicean label to stifle Bible study.

For some people the Laodicean label discourages them from
seeing what the Bible says about a teaching.

Notice:

"That teaching is not what Mr. Armstrong taught.
It must be a teaching of the Laodiceans."

"That teaching is not found in the 58-lesson Bible
correspondence course of the 1960s. It must be a teaching of the Laodiceans."

"That teaching can be found in the Systematic Theology
Project [STP] of the 1970s. It must be a teaching of the Laodiceans."

"That teaching is not what our church teaches. It
must be a teaching of the Laodiceans."

For the record, people should ignore the self-proclaimed
Philadelphians and compare to the Bible the teachings of Mr. Armstrong,
of the long correspondence course, of the STP and of their church.

Time to change the filter

Self-proclaimed Philadelphians need to change their mental
filter. Unfortunately, changing a mental filter is not as easy as changing
an air filter in a car or furnace.

Usually the most effective way for a mental filter to change
is through tough life experiences. Review the stories of Job (Job 38-42),
Saul (Acts 9:1-5) and the Laodicean congregation (Revelation 3:17-19).

However, we can become teachable and learn the lessons
more quickly if we will remember two lessons from Revelation 2 and 3:

Saints should diligently seek to focus on Jesus Christ
instead of men.

Saints should diligently seek to be overcomers.

Focus on Jesus Christ

For the record, although I reject the numerous theories
and interpretations about church eras, I acknowledge a progressive pattern
in Revelation 2 and 3.

Notice:

To Thyatira Jesus said: "Hold fast what you have
till I come" (2:25).

To Sardis Jesus said: "Therefore if you will not
watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour
I will come upon you" (3:3).

To Philadelphia Jesus said: "Behold, I come quickly"
(3:11).

To Laodicea Jesus said: "Behold, I stand at the
door and knock" (3:20).

Instead of allowing this progressive pattern to influence
you to label and condemn people, why not focus on the coming return of Jesus
Christ?

The purpose of prophecy is not to give glory to church
leaders who are reportedly identified in Scripture and not to give glory
to supposed master teachers who espouse their theories as absolute truth.

Rather, the purpose of prophecy is to motivate saints to
rekindle a relationship with the Father and the Son and to "keep"
the words of the Bible (Revelation 1:3).

Be an overcomer

Recognizing the progressive nature and pattern of prophecy
should motivate saints to concentrate on overcoming, which is a main theme
of Revelation 2 and 3.

All saints, including self-proclaimed Philadelphians, would
do well to internalize the following lessons:

Paul wrote: "Let him that thinks he stands take
heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Jesus warned us that how we condemn others will determine
how we are condemned (Matthew 7:1-5).

Jesus instructed us that a condemning approach does not
please God as does repentance (Luke 18:9-14).